A Snapchat text from Wrigley Field during state worker hours and a pair of sexually harrassing text messages to female co-workers were among the new details to emerge Wednesday in the firings of three high-level staffers in state Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s office.

The Executive Ethics Commission Wednesday released a report by David Wells, executive inspector general for the treasurer’s office, into an alleged scheme to circumvent the time-keeping system in Rutherford’s office.

Wells identified Patrick Carlson, George Daglas and Ashvin Lad, all three senior members in Rutherford’s management team, and said all three violated the “trust and integrity” of Rutherford and state taxpayers by their conduct. […]

“All three positions are senior staff positions within the office of state treasurer, appointed by Treasurer Rutherford. These individuals are in leadership positions of a state agency wherein integrity and trust are key character traits. By their participation in this fraudulent time keeping scheme, whether it was ‘every day’ or ‘one time only,’ their actions violated the trust and integrity of Treasurer Rutherford, the office of state treasurer, and most importantly, the trust of the taxpayers of the state of Illinois,” Wells’ report concluded.

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford fired three top aides who were accused of falsifying timekeeping records, but the former employees say they were targeted in retaliation for participating in a probe looking into allegations of sexual harassment and political pressure made against their boss. […]

In written responses released by the inspector general, Carlson, Daglas and Lad say there are several inaccuracies in the report and question the legitimacy of the investigation, saying the inspector general did not follow proper protocol and inform them of the right to have interviews recorded.

Carlson said in his response that he at no point admitted to being a part of the scheme, and accused Wells of having an “accusatory tone and demeanor” during interviews. Carlson wrote that Wells’ behavior matches that of other treasurer’s office staff members and was “designed to purposely and willfully create a hostile workplace environment and was done in retaliation” for statements Carlson made to another investigator hired by Rutherford to vet allegations brought against him by a former employee that the treasurer engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment and political pressure.

Lad also questioned Wells’ investigation, saying the ethics officer relied on statements from “co-workers who were set to find ways to retaliate against me for cooperating with an internal investigation.” Daglas did not say he felt he was being retaliated against in his formal response to the report, but told the Tribune on Wednesday that the trio was unfairly targeted for participating in the Rutherford probe. Carlson and Lad declined to comment further, deferring to their written responses.

Has Rutherford ever released the report he promised to release regarding the original allegations? Until we can see what’s in that, it’s hard to know who to believe in this brouhaha.

But from what I’ve seen of Rutherford, I wouldn’t be shocked to learn this was retaliation. My guess is, if he was pleased with a certain employee, a day at Wrigley Field was no problem. If he was displeased, it was a capitol offense.

I know one of the three well and he said the only way to clear there names is for the suppressed report to come out. Also it seems there is a clause allowing Rutherford to destroy the Braver report which seems odd, but it’s Rutherford

“I know one of the three well and he said the only way to clear there names is for the suppressed report to come out.”

All three in their responses which were released with the IG report asked that the IG report be suppressed and their names redacted. I think their written submission speaks louder than the attributed quote.

David Wells is a straight shooter. The report speaks for itself and stands on its own.

I know one of the clowns; he was a political type from Lee Daniels house republican organization, so this is unsurprising.

Until Rutherford, …the Fiasco Friday Guy, who self-distrusted in what may be the biggest Press Crew blunder of a constitutional officer in recent memory..,

…until Dopey Rutherford pays for the investigation he had the state pay for, or releases the report for public scrutiny, …dismissals or firings or whatever @RutherfordDan calls them only continues to remind me that Dan Rutherford can’t leave the stage soon enough.

“I can’t tell you what it is, I can’t tell you who is going it, I can’t tell you anything, but it isn’t true…the stuff I can’t tell you.

Embarrassingly pathetic.

But, good on @RutherfordDan, “I am the state Treasurer”, you got these three good.

==David Wells is a straight shooter. The report speaks for itself and stands on its own.==

Someone didn’t read the report fully. Wells doesn’t do himself any favors by contradicting himself in different places, and stating things that don’t even exist. A season ticket holder incentive gift,” given at a game? People were mentioned by one but then he says they weren’t mentioned? People who were a part of this that began in 2014, yet moved away in 2012? It seems Mr. Wells was free wheeling with his words. And based on the responses, it appears there were people Wells could have interviewed who may have supported the claims of the 3, but he chose not to. Any chance these 3 went to Wells to report various issues, but he just sat on them, and now he wants to cover his own rear end? Has anyone checked other employees time to see if there were others who never clocked out for lunch? If they were not fired, but these 3 were, then yes, retaliation.